Fear of the Unknown

When it comes to bears, most people err on the side of caution. Many people accept media exaggerations of bear danger and develop deeply ingrained fears, making no differentiation between black bears and grizzly bears, which are 26 times more likely to kill someone.

Probably the only way people can get past their fear of black bears is by getting to know wild individuals. However, many people who could meet wild black bears avoid them because they want nothing to do with animals they fear.